Specialty managing general underwriter Risksmith Insurance Services has launched a new difference in conditions (DIC) earthquake insurance program designed for large, complex commercial property risks.
The program targets exposures that many traditional markets avoid, offering brokers and insureds greater flexibility when structuring earthquake coverage for challenging properties.
Built for Complex and Hard-to-Place Risks
Risksmith said the new DIC earthquake program is specifically built for excess and surplus property exposures, including older buildings, properties with high liquefaction risk, and structures with tuck-under parking.
These risk characteristics often limit available capacity in standard markets. The new program aims to address those gaps by pairing technical underwriting expertise with a broader appetite for difficult earthquake risks.
Flexible Structure and High-Capacity Options
The DIC earthquake program provides access to high limits with no total insured value (TIV) maximum. Coverage can be structured in several ways depending on the insured’s needs, including primary placements, quota share arrangements, or excess layers.
Risksmith said this flexibility allows brokers to design coverage that aligns with complex risk profiles and layered insurance programs.
Broad Geographic Availability Across US Earthquake Zones
The new offering is available for a wide range of commercial property risks across major US earthquake zones. These include California, the Pacific Northwest, the New Madrid seismic zone, and other regions nationwide with earthquake exposure.
By offering nationwide availability, Risksmith aims to support brokers placing earthquake coverage for diverse property portfolios.
Coverage Features and Limits
The DIC earthquake program includes several key coverage features designed for large commercial risks:
- Earthquake, earth movement, and earthquake sprinkler leakage coverage
- Flexible carrier or manuscript earthquake definitions
- High limits available up to $25 million
- Large-risk capacity with no maximum TIV
Risksmith said the program allows insureds and brokers to tailor coverage terms to meet specific underwriting and risk management needs.
